Program timers



' April 30, 1957 mm m. 21. 1953 C. G. MONTGOMERY PROGRAM TIMERS 3 S heeCs-Sheet 2 April 30, 1957 c. e. MONTGOMERY- 2,790,852

I PROGRAM TIME-IRS Filed Dec. 21. 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gr INVENTOR Y 1 z v/vomser v6 md rh l H 1 LF U P PROGRAM TIMERS Clarence Graham Montgomery, North Granby, Conn, assignor, by mesne assignments, to George C. Graham, Ridgewood, Frank Panuizzo, Gradell, N. J., and I. .lor dan Kunik, New York, N. Y.

Application December 21, 1953, Serial No. 399,483

10 Claims. (Cl. 200--37) This invention relates to time control devices, and more particularly to an improved time-controlled mechanism adapted to control a plurality of electrical circuits in preselected time period sequences.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of a timing device adapted to control a plurality of electrical circuits, as in radio and television receiving sets, for example, and to operate said circuits in a preselected program order, said device having novel features of c011- struction that result in greatly reduced manufacturing cost and in simplicity of operation.

There is also provided novel differentiating switch means for ensuring accuracy of the timing function in changing from one preselected circuit to another.

The present invention comprises a time drive mechanism, a plurality of manually operated pins that preselect the desired circuits, switch means which will be identified herein as a walking switch operated by the drive mechanism to make contact with said selector pins in sequence, and a cam-switch device also operated by the drive mechanism to regulate the operation of the walking switch.

Still other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the specification.

The features of novelty which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth herein and will best be understood, both as to their fundamental principles and as to their particular embodiments, by reference to the specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of the program preselection clock of the present invention;

Fig, 2 is a cross section view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, some elements being shown in phantom outline, some parts in elevation, and some parts being broken away, and further including a schematic diagram of a portion of the associated electrical circuit;

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, showing some component elements in phantom outline and some parts being omitted;

Fig. 4 is a view of a selecting pin with a manual pull tab attached thereto;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a greatly enlarged perspective view of the selector pin shown in Figs. 2 and 4;

Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of the circuit rings normally positioned within the chamber of the program selector clock indicating the various circuits which are selected;

Fig. 8 is a greatly enlarged section view of a portion of the internal chamber of the clock showing an alternative form of circuit ring; and

Figs. 9 to 14 are schematic representations of the walking switch and of the cam operated time switch operating in conjunction with said walking switch, showing the progressive stages at which succeeding circuits are selected.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a casing, generally 2,790,862 v Patented Apr. 30, 1957 designed 21, having a cylindrical frame 22 and a rear panel 23. Said cylindrical frame 22 may be inserted into a suitable clock cabinet or into a suitable radio or television cabinet. Mounted within frame 22 is a generally cylindrical block 24 of insulating material whose outer periphery is spaced apart from the internal periphery of frame 22 and which is supported in that position by means of brackets 25, connected both to block 24 and frame 22 and positioned at suitable intervals around the periphery of block 24. Block 24 has a rear panel 25 While the greater forward portion of said block has a substantially cylindrical aperture 27.

The forward end of frame 22 has an inwardly extending collar 28 to the face of which is connected a front disk ring panel 29 by means of screws 31, or the like. Panel 29 has at its internal periphery a rearwardly extending lip 32 forming a circular frame into which is mounted block 33 having a central aperture 34 through which a pair of coaxial shafts 35 and 36 extend, said coaxial shafts extending rearwardly also through a suitable aperture in panel 26.

Mounted on the front end of shaft 36 and rotated thereby is a clock minute hand 37 and mounted on the front end of shaft 35' and rotated thereby is a clock hour hand 38. Hands 37 and 38 are illustrated in different positions in Figs. 1 and 2 for the sake of clarity. Imprinted on the forward face of block 33 is a series of numerals in the form of a clock face 39. Alternatively, a separate clock face plate 39 may be applied by suitable means to the front face of block 33. Covering face 39 and clock hands 37 and 38 is a transparent bezel 41 whose peripheral edge is mounted firmly and cemented in the juncture between lip 32 and block 33.

The internal periphery of block 26 is provided with a plurality of V-shaped or U-shaped circular grooves 42 in each of which is positioned a broken ring 43 in tandem array (see Fig. 7), said rings serving as electrical conductors. Each ring 43 has a leg 44 which extends through a suitable radial slot 45 in block 26.

In some embodiments, loops 43 may be continuous rings, but as shown here in Fig. 7, they are broken off at one end 46, since one method of inserting said rings into said block is to compress the ring into a smaller circle, insert it into the unassembled block 24 through aperture 27, place leg 44 into a slot 45 and then permit the natural spring tension to snap the ring into a groove 42. Other suitable means may be improvised for inserting the rings into the grooves.

It will be noted that when loops 43 are positioned in grooves 42, they are recessed well below the surface of the internal periphery of block 24, so that they are not only insulated from each other but are also out of reach of and insulated from any conductive element that may pass over the internal periphery of the block. The circumferential length of each loop 43 is selected so that when the loop finally is positioned in groove 42 the end 46 of said loop lies fairly close to or even touches the other portion of the loop at or near the inner end of leg 44. See Fig. 7.

Connected to the outer ends of legs 44 are separate insulated lead lines 47, all of which are collected and sheathed in cable 48 which extends through rear panel 23 to lead to a control circuit to be described hereinbelow.

Mounted horizontally in equal spatial intervals in a circle in block24 are a plurality of selector pins 51 (Figs. 2, 4 and 6) having legs 52 and 53 which extend into slots 54 and 55, respectively, in block 24, said selector pins being in the form of a modified hairpin made of a suitable electrically conductive metal and being movable longitudinally in said slots. Leg 53, which is longer than leg 52 and is somewhat resilient, extends all the way through slot 55 in block 24 and beyond it for a short distance.

Intermediate the ends of leg 53 there is formed a single V- or U-shaped contact crimp 56 which is adapted to fit into any of grooves 42, said crimp having substantially the same contour as said grooves.

A tab 57 is connected to the looped head of pin 51 by means of stud 58 and extends forward through a suitable slot in panel 29, said tab providing the operator of the device with grasping means for pushing and pulling pin 51 inwardly and outwardly from block 24.

Near the juncture where tab 57 is connected to pin 51, flange 61 on said tab abuts against the forward face of block 24 and against a flange on block 33, thereby limiting the inward movement of tab 57 and pin 51. Thus crimp 56 is prevented from being pushed beyond the rearward groove 42.

When tab 57 is pulled manually forward from panel 29, crimp 56, in resilient leg 53, snaps from one groove 42 to another groove 42, and makes electrical contact with the respective loops 43 therein. By arranging that leg 53 of pin 51 extends through slot 55, the snap action of crimp 56 engaging grooves 42 is ensured, the resilience of leg 53 being sufficient to produce long lasting service. It will be noted that when crimp 56 of a particular pin 51 is in contact with any one of circuit loops 42, the material of leg 53 is spaced apart from the other circuit loops as it moves across the internal periphery of block 24. Thus, the arrangement of parts herein provides for an extremely economical selecting mechanism, whereby circuits may be selected as desired without danger of short circuiting other unselected and uninsulated circuit elements, even though the selecting means moves transversely across the whole group of selectable circuits.

Suitable markings may be provided on tab 57, as for example, with a series of colors represented by code areas 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66, corresponding with loops 43, designated respectively, a, b, c, (l and a. See Figs. 2 and 7. By this means a visual indication can be given of the position of the crimp 56 in contact with a particular circuit represented by one of loops 43. In other embodiments, members, letters or other indexing indicators may be substituted for the color codes.

Since each loop 43 represents a predetermined radio or television station or other circuit to be selected by this mechanism, it is apparent that said loop circuits may be preselected by manually pulling tabs 57 to the desired position. Since tabs 57 and pins 51 are positioned at regular time intervals around the face of clock 39 in block 24, said intervals being either half-hour, quarter-hour, or other intervals, as desired, it becomes apparent that prcselections of desired stations may be made in advance around the clock at any point thereof, said preselections being determined by the distance by which tab 57 is pulled from its zero position as represented at the top of the illustration of Fig. 2, where the end groove 42 at the right contains no circuit loop. At the bottom of the illustration of Fig. 2, tab 57 is shown as having been pulled out by three index notches and crimp 56 is in contact with loop circuit 43c. It is apparent that the other tabs 57 around the face of the clock may be pulled out to any desired indexing position, depending upon the station that is desired to be selected and the time period during which it is to be actuated.

If twenty-four pins 51 are provided, each will control one half hour of on or off time, depending upon where crimp 56 is positioned. if forty-eight pins are provided, each time interval will be fifteen minutes. The time control can obviously be subdivided into any desired time intervals by multiplying the number of pins 51 as convenient within space limitations.

In some embodiments, loops 43 may be dispensed with and in place thereof, grooves 42 may be lined with strips 69 of conductive material whose edges are recessed from the inner periphery of block 24. See Fig. 8. Strips 69 may consist of sheet copper or the like, stamped and bonded into grooves 42, or they may be formed therein by an electroplating process or the like. Strips 69 would be electrically connected to legs 44 in block 24 by suitable means.

The coordination of the selecting means described hereinabove with the timing mechanism will now be described.

Attached by suitable means to the rear of panel 23 is a conventional synchronous electric clock motor and gear train 71, the power source for which is not shown. The output shaft 72 of the gear train (not shown), driven by motor 71, extends through panel 23, and attached thereto are large gear 73 and small gear 74, both rotating with said shaft. Gear 73 meshes with gear 75 mounted on the rearward end of shaft 36 while gear 74 meshes with gear 76 mounted on the rearward end of shaft 35. The size of respective pairs of gears 73, 75 and 74, 76, are chosen so that shaft 36 rotates one revolution per hour while shaft 35 rotates one revolution per twelve hours, as provided in conventional clock movements.

Attached to and rotated by shaft 35 is the mounting means for the walking switch which comprises a blade 77 made of insulating material. (See Figs. 2, 3 and 9 to 14.) Connected by suitable means to the forward side of blade 77 is a spring wire 78, having a leg portion 79. See Fig. 3. Connected to the rear face of blade 77 is another spring wire 82, having a leg portion 83. It will be noted from the illustration in Fig. 3, that, as blade 77 rotates in a clockwise direction, leg portions 79 and 83 of spring wires 78 and 82 will snap from one leg 53 of pin 51 to a succeeding leg 53 of a following pin 51, the ends of legs 53 serving as circuit terminals for loops 43.

Spring wire 78 has an arm 85 which extends rearwardly through a suitable aperture in blade 77 and impinges continually against collector ring 86 attached to the inside face of panel 26, by means of suitable studs 87. See Fig. 3.

Spring wire 82 also has an arm which extends rearwardly through blade 77 and impinges continually upon collector ring 89 attached to the inside face of panel 26 by means of studs 91. Collector rings 86 and 89 have recessed grooves 92 and 93, respectively, said grooves serving as guide tracks for the ends of respective arms 85 and 88 which are in continual contact therewith. Collector rings 86 and 89 have conductor studs 94 and 95,

respectively, which extend rearwardly through panel 26 where they are connected to a switch as will be described hereinbelow.

Bracket 96 attached to the inside face of panel 23 supports a three blade switch generally designated 97. See Figs. 2, and 9 through 14. Switch 97 is composed of blades 98, 99 and 1.00, said blades being separated at one end from each other by suitable insulating material. Blade 93 is connected electrically to stud 94 by lead line 101, while blade 100 is connected to stud by means of lead line 102. Switch blade .93 is electrically con nected through collector ring 86, arm 85 and spring wire 78 to leg 79. Switch blade is electrically connected through collector rin 89, arm 88, and spring Wire 82 to leg 94.

Mounted on and rotating with minute hand shaft 36 is cam 103 (see Figs. 2, and 9 through l4), which has a pair of drop off points 104 that are located exactly 180 apart from each other. Spring blade 99 has a leg 105 which rides on the periphery of cam 103 as the latter rotates, and its motion in dropping from points 104 into recesses 106 in the periphery of cam 103 and in rising out of said recesses serves to cause spring blade 99 to come into con tact with blades 98 and 100 at definite times.

The contour of cam 103 is arranged in such manner that it actuate leg 105 to cause spring blade 99 to come in contact with either blade 98 or blade 100. Additionally, blades 98 and 100 are biased in such a manner that it is possible for blade 99 to be in contact with both blades 98 and 100 at the same time. When, however,

tain limits toward either blade 98 or blade 100, then contact will be broken, with the other respective blade.

It will be seen that in Fig. 9, blade 99 is in contact only with blade 98. In Fig. when arm 105 has dropped off point 104, contact between blades 99 and 98 is broken, and contact is made between blades 99 and 100. As cam 103 rotates, blades 99 and 100 continue to be in contact with each other through Figs. 10 and 11, but as leg 105 rises on cam recess 106, then blade 99 rises to come in contact with blade 98. At this time when arm 1.05 is approximately in the middle of the recess 106, both blades 98 and 100 are simultaneously in contact with blade 99 due to the predetermined spring bias of said blades.

As cam 103 rotates further, and the high portion of the peripheral edge of cam 103 passes the end of arm 105 (Figs. 13 and 14), blade 99 is raised to such a degree that contact is broken between it and blade 100, and remains broken until the next fall down point 104 on cam 103 comes into position under the end of arm 105, as shown in the succession of Figs. 9 and 10. Throughout the high portion of edge of cam 103, blade 99 remains in contact with blade 98.

Blade 99 is electrically connected by means of lead line 107 to one side of the circuit to be controlled, while lead lines 47 from circuit loops 43 are connected through a stepping switch 108 (Fig. 2) and lead line 109 to the other side of the circuit.

Switch 108 may take the form of a rotary solenoid stepping switch or a relay bank which, when activated by any one of circuit rings 43a, b, c, d or 2, will select a corresponding circuit to be controlled, as for example, a particular one of several radio stations, television channels or other circuits that are to be controlled in preselected sequences. Although only one circuit line 109 is shown selected by switch 108, for the sake of clarity of illustration, it is understood that there will be as many corresponding output circuits from switch 108 as there are input circuits transmitted to the switch through cable 48.

Each of the output circuits from switch 108 may be connected to a pretuned station circuit of a radio or television set so that the pre-tuned, or manual selection of any One of the circuits of loops 43 will automatically control the corresponding station.

Referring to Figs. 9 through 14, and assuming the clockwise motion of shaft 35 and blade 77, walking switch leg 84 will be considered the advance switch leg, while walking switch leg 79 will be considered the carrying switch leg. Each dot 53 represents a leg 53 of a pin 51 at half hour intervals, which are contacted and wiped successively by legs 84 and 79, respectively. Figs. 9 through 14 show the walking switch operating in the time intervals of 11:30 oclock, .12 oclock, and 12:30 oclock. It will also be assumed that the respective tabs 57 have been pulled out at these three time positions to cause crimp 56 to remain in contact with loops 43a, b and c, respectively, representing different stations A, B and C, respectively, preselected at these three half hour periods.

With advance leg 84 on the twelve oclock selector pin leg 53, and carrying switch leg 79 on the 11:30 selector pin leg, it will be observed that with the position of cam 103 as in Fig. 9, advance switch leg 84 is dead, since there is no electrical connection between contact blade 100 and contact blade 99. At that same time, however, contact is established between blade 99 and 98 whereby carrying switch leg 79 is alive on the 11:30 selector pin which represents station A which is in operation.

One of drop off points 104 is coordinated with the pointer of minute hand 37, while the other drop off point 104, 180 around cam 103, represents a half hour interval away, the exact position of said drop off points depending also upon the position, length and bias of contact blade 99 and arm 105. Cam 103 rotates together with minute hand 37, once an hour, thereby actuating switch contact blade-99 twice an hour, precisely at the half hour periods.

As minute hand 37, together with hour hand 38, reach the 12:00 oclock position, drop 011 point at the top of earn 103 will simultaneously reach a position at which arm 105 of blade 99 will drop'down into trough 106 of cam 103. Atthis time blade 99 will drop away from blade 98, breaking contact therewith, and, being biased downward, blade 99 will come into contact at practically the same instant with contact switch blade 100. At this point carrying switch leg 79 will be inactivated, and station A will be switched olf, while advance switch leg 84 will become activated, thus bringing into play leg 53 of the 12:00 oclock selector pin 51, the tab of which has been pulled out to cause crimp 56 to come in contact With loop circuit 43b, and hence, station B will be activated.

Walking switch blade 77 continues to rotate and while alive advance switch leg 84 continues to wipe against the leg 53 of 12:00 oclock pin 51, the carrying switch leg 79 advances and snaps to the same 12:00 oclock pin 51, said switch leg still being dead, as shown in Fig. 11, since the shape of trough 106 is arranged at that time to maintain only contact arms 99 and in a closed electrical circuit with contact arm '98 being open circuited in respect of blade 99.

As clock shafts 35 and 36 continue to rotate under the action of motor 71, we see that in Fig. 12, both legs 84 and 81 are still on the 12:00 oclock pin, but in the meantime, cam 103 has continued to rotate and is forcing arm outward and up along the slope of trough 106, tocause the upward movement of blade 99. Since blade 100 is biased upwards, it continues in contact with blade 99, but in Fig. 12 blade 99 has also come in contact with blade 98, whereby rendering blade 98, and, correspondingly, carrying switch leg 79, alive. Since, however, both switch legs 84 and 81 are alive on the same selector pin leg 53, there is no interference between circuits.

Coming now to Fig. 13, we see that the cam surface of cam 103 has lifted arm 105 to cause the upward movement of blade 99 beyond the biasing limit of blade 100, thereby breaking the circuit between blade 99 and blade 100, and rendering advance switch leg 84 dead while maintaining carrying switch leg 81 electrically alive since contact blades 99 and 98 are still closed.

Now considering Fig. 14, we see that blade 77 has continued its rotation and advance switch leg 34 which was rendered electrically dead in Fig. 13, has now snapped to the leg 53 of the 12:30 oclock leg 53. Since advance switch leg 84 is dead, no selection is made of circuit 430, since only carrying switch leg '79 is in closed circuit through switch blades 99 and 98.

The condition of Fig. 14 remains until cam 103 rotates to the position when the next half hour drop off point 104 is again reached, as shown in Fig. 9. At precisely 12:30 oclock, leg 105 falls ofl drop off point 104, and breaks contact with carrying switch leg 79, as described hereinabove, and simultaneously makes contact with blade 100 to render advance switch leg 84 electrically alive, thereby selecting station C. As each successive leg 33 is rendered alive by advance leg 84, the particular loop 43 which has been selected by crimp 56 becomes alive and activates the selector switch 108 to select the corresponding pretuned circuit. When the selector switch 108 is activated to select a particular circuit, it openscircuits the last previously selected circuit. This process is repeated around the clock and successive stations are precisely selected at half hour periods in synchronization with the timing operation of the clock movement and clock hands.

It can be readily seen that if each of the loops 43a, I), c, d and e represent different radio or television stations, the operator may pull tab 57 to preselect the desired station to which he wants to listen at each half-hour interval. If there are certain half-hour intervals in which no listening is desired, tabs 57 are pushed inward to the limitingaction of flange 61, at which point crimp 56 rests in the rearward groove 42 in which no circuit loop 43 has been placed. Thus, in that position, as represented at the top of Fig. 2, there is no circuit selected, and the appliance, such as a radio, or television set, will automatically be off at that selected *half hour period when no listening or viewing is desired.

If preselection timing is desired at fifteen minute inter vals, for example, pins 51 may be placed at suitable fifteen minute intervals around the clock face 39, while earn 103 will be shaped in such manner that there will be four drop oif points 184 positioned 90 apart, whereby precise selection will take place in synchronization with the fifteen minute period of the clock movement.

If, during any one of the time periods controlled by selector pins 51, it is desired to change stations, to turn off the selector or to turn it on, as the case may be, the operator merely manipulates tab 57 at will without dis turbing the timing function of the device.

It is to be understood that the embodiment of Fig. 2 may be modified by arranging grooves 42 in tandem on the outer periphery of block 24 with circuit loops 43 re cessed therein below the peripheral surface. In this case, the positions of legs 52 and 53 of pin 51 would be re versed, and pin 53 would slide over the outer periphery of the block with crimp 56 arranged to make contact with the loops as before. Suitable anchoring means can be arranged on block 24 to secure pins 51 thereon while permitting the sliding function as described hereinabove.

In such an embodiment, a rearrangement of parts and sizes thereof could be made whereby legs 79 and 84 of the walking switch would contact legs 52 successively. The other components of the device can readily be rearranged to accommodate these modifications within the purview of the inventive features herein.

Also, loops 43 may be positioned in recessed concentric array on the front face of block 24 around face plate 39, with pins 51. arranged to slide radially whereby crimp 56 of leg 53 would come in contact selectively with said loops. Suitable connectors on said pins may be provided to project rearwardly in a spaced time array to be con tacted by the walking switch, as described hcreinabovel It is also contemplated herein that selector pins 51 may be made of flat spring stock with one leg having a crimped portion for contacting the circuit loops and having sufiicient resiliency for snapping from loop to loop, while the walking switch makes contact with the other leg of the selector pin. Also, the resilience of pins 51 cooperating with recessed grooves 42 produces an indexing means whereby the operator in manipulating tabs 57 can sense or feel the number of snaps for determining the station to be selected. This would be especially convenient for blind persons in operating a radio receiving set.

In some embodiments, selector switch 108 may be dispensed with, and instead there would be provided a pin-- rality of relays, each being connected to a. corresponding circuit loop 43, said relays being connected to corresponding pretuned circuits wl 'ch would be selected as before, by selector pins 51.

In still other embodiments, the relays could be dis pensed with, and the prctuned circuits connected directly to corresponding circuit loops 43, suitable circuit modifications being provided for that purpose.

The use of the walking switch herein obviates the necessity for constructing the device with close tolerances, since the precise timing for switching from one station to another is controlled simply by cam 103. A certain latitude of dimensional tolerances is, therefore, permitted for the other components of the device, such as the place ment of pins 53, and the relative positions of legs 79 and 84, thereby keeping the cost of the device within a very low cost range.

The circuit differentiating function of the walking switch may be performed in a system wherein selector pins may, for example, be arranged in a straight line and the walking switch arranged to travel in such a manner as to activate and deactivate succeeding circuits in the same manner as described above. it is conternplated that still other mechanical arrangements can be provided to accommodate the walking switch of the pres-- ent invention.

it will be apparent that the recessed circuit loops or rings with an array of pins, each arranged to contact any one of said loops, may be utilized for other types of clock control mechanisms and electrical circuits.

in the spccili .on, i have explained the principles of my ntion, and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles, as to distinguish my ir ion from other inventions; and l have particularly poin d out and distinctly claimed the part, mode or CUJ'i HlI-IllUil which. I. claim as my invention or discovcry.

While I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that inc-d ions and che- :3 may be made without dcparting truth the function and scope thereof, as will be clear to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A time control device comprising a tubular frame of insulating material, a plurality of spaced apart circuit loo s morn ed on and recessed from one surface of said frame, the se n-nice in said frame forming electrical insulation between said loops, a plurality of selector means mounted in a 1e sequence relationship on said frame, each of saidincans cing bia d against and being ada; to be moved over said surface of said frame and to electrically contact any one of said loops at a time, a clock shaft mounted a: y in said frame, a pair of mounted on and rotated by said shalt, s others being positioned one in advance of the other and each adapted to contact said selecting ans ly, said members being spaced apart a prcdctc m each other whereby part of the time each member is in contact with respectivc separate a st selector means and during other times both said mambo i are in contact with a single e ,ctor means.

2. A dcvi according claim 1, and further coniprisiug a three element "witch, eac of said members being connected to a or responding element of said switch, a gear train connected to and operated by said shaft, a earn rotated by said gear train at a speed faster than that of so l sl" and adapted to operate the third element of said switch, said cam being adapted to cause said switch to differentiate the circuits selected by the respective members.

3. A time control device having plurality of selector members arranged in a time period sequence, coznpris ing first means for contacting said selector members in sequence and. second means or contacting said selector members in sequence, said two means being spaced apart from each other and moving at the same speed in a time controlled manner, and switch means for differentiating the operation of said first means from said second means, said switch means operating at a higher speed than said first two means.

4. A time control device comprising motor, a shaft driven by s id motor, a p irality of circuit terminals arranged concentr cally one ced apart from each other :act leg mounted on said around said shaft, a first c shaft and arrai'iged to contact said terminals in succession, a second conta t leg mounted on said shaft and s3; ccd apart from first contact leg, said second contact leg being arranged to contact said terminals in succession, the spacing between said legs being such that one leg moves to successive terminals in advance of the other leg and during portion of the transit of said legs, said legs a e positioned on tl'ic same terminal, a switch connected to said legs and adapted to control the electrical circuits therein, a second shaft driven by said motor at a speed greater than that of the first mentioned shaft,

each of said contact legs being connected to corresponding separate elements of said switch, a third element on said switch adapted to contact either of said other elements, at least one of said other elements being flexibly biased whereby in certain conditions said third element is in contact with both of said other two elements simultaneously, and a cam on said second shaft operable to move said third element.

5. A time control device comprising a motor, a pair of coaxial shafts driven at different speeds by said motor, a plurality of circuit terminals arranged concentrically and spaced apart from each other around said shafts, a first contact leg mounted on the first of said shafts and arranged to contact said terminals in succession, a second contact leg mounted on said first shaft and spaced apart from said first contact leg, said second contact leg being arranged to contact said terminals in succession, the spacing between said legs being such that one leg moves to successive terminals in advance of the other leg and during a portion of the transit of said legs, said legs positioned on the same terminal, a pair of collector rings, one of said legs being electrically connected to one of said rings and the other leg being electrically connected to the other of said rings, said rings being electrically connected to respective contact arms on opposite sides of a contact blade, a cam mounted on the second of said shafts driven at a speed greater than that of the other shaft, the cam surfaces of said cam being arranged to operate said contact blade whereby contact is made between said blade and either of said other two contact arms, at least one of said other two contact arms being flexibly biased whereby on a portion of the operation of said cam, said central contact blade is in contact with both of said other two arms.

6. A time control device comprising a tubular frame having an inner surface and an outer surface, a time drive mechanism on said frame, a pair of coaxial shafts connected to and rotated at different speeds by said mechanism, a plurality of spaced apart circuit rings positioned on one surface of said frame, said rings being recessed from said surface, a plurality of spaced apart selector means in the form of electrically conductive pins having two legs, said pins being arranged in a time period spacing circumferentially relative to said shaft, one of said legs being biased against and being adapted to be moved over the surface of said frame upon which said rings are located when said pins are moved transversely to said rings, and to electrically contact any one of said rings at a time, a pair of electrical snap contact members mounted on and rotated by one of said shafts, said members being positioned one in advance of the other and each adapted to contact said other legs of said pins successively, said members being spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other whereby part of the time each member is in contact with respective separate adjacent other legs and during other times both said members are in contact with a single one of said other legs, a three element switch on said frame, each of said members being connected to a corresponding element of said switch, a cam on the other shaft being rotated at a fasterv speed than that of the first mentioned shaft, said cam being adapted to operate the third element of said switch for contacting the other two elements alternately to cause said switch to differentiate the circuits selected by the respective members.

7. A time control device comprising a tubular frame having an inner surface and an outer surface, a time drive mechanism on said frame, a pair of coaxial shafts connected to and rotated at different speeds by said mechanism, a plurality of spaced apart circuit rings positioned on one surface of said frame, said rings being recessed from said surface, a plurality of spaced apart selector means in the form of electrically conductive pins, said pins being arranged in a time period spacing circumfen entially relative to said shaft, said pins being biased against and being adapted to be moved over the surface of said frame upon which said rings are located when said pins are moved transversely to said rings, and to electrically contact any one of said rings at a time, a pair of electrical snap contact members mounted on and rotated by one of said shafts, said members being positioned one in advance of the other and each adapted to contact said pins in succession, said members being spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other whereby part of the time each member is in contact with respective separate adjacent pins and during other times both said members are in contact with a single one of said pins, a three element switch on said frame, each of said members being connected to a corresponding element of said switch, a cam on the other shaft being rotated at a faster speed than that of the first mentioned shaft, said cam being adapted to operate the third element of said switch for contacting the other two elements alternately to cause said switch to differentiate the circuits selected by the respective members.

8. A time control device having a plurality of circuit terminals arranged in a time period sequence, comprising first means for contacting said terminals in sequence, second means for contacting said terminals in sequence, said two means being spaced apart from each other, means for moving said first and second means at the same speed, a switch, a first contact on said switch electrically connected to said first means, a second contact on said switch electrically connected to said second means, a cam operative upon said contacts of said switch selectively to open and close the circuits of said contacts at predetermined times, and means for moving said cam at a rate of speed faster than that of said first and second means.

9. A time control device having a plurality of circuit terminals arranged in a time period sequence, comprising first means for contacting said terminals in sequence, second means for contacting said terminals in sequence, said two means being spaced apart from each other, means for moving said first and second means at the same speed, said first means moving in advance of said second means, a switch, a first contact on said switch electrically connected to said first means, a second contact on said switch electrically connected to said second means, a cam operative upon said contacts of said switch selectively to open and close the respective circuits of said contacts at predetermined times, and means for moving said cam at a rate of speed greater than that of said first and second means,

10. A time control device having a plurality of circuit terminals arranged in a time period sequence, comprising a first spindle rotating at a controlled speed, first means, mounted on said first spindle for contacting said terminals in sequence, second means mounted on said first spindle for contacting said terminals in sequence, said two means being spaced apart from each other and moving one in advance of the other, a switch, a first contact on said switch electrically connected to said first means, a second contact on said switch electrically connected to said second means, a second spindle coaxial with said first spindle and rotating at a speed greater than that of the first spindle, a cam mounted upon and rotating with said second spindle, said cam being operative upon said contacts of said switch selectively to open and close the circuits of said contacts at predetermined times.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,969,926 Eickholf Aug. 14, 1934 2,145,973 Clayson Feb. 7, 1939 2,187,373 Cheney Ian. 16, 1940 2,195,642 De Larm Apr. 2, 1940 2,240,498 Elliott May 6, 1941 2,489,124 Giovanni Nov. 22, 1949 

